Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-05-27
TWO AToNCE
An Accident by whiehs Couple of Bushwhsek.
ers Lost Their Lives
Detroit Free Press

AN ANSN AhNAk laws
Detroit Free Press.
On the night before General Blunt at
tackled Msrmaduks at Cane Hill. Ark.
ana after days march of twenty-seyen
miles, says writer in the Detroit Free
Press, the company in which was then
private was placed an outpost duty. We
were within three or four miles of Cane
HUI and as far as We knew had not been
discovered by the enemy.
AarmaduSe had a strong body OF cav
airy under him, and his force was in ad-
vance OF q body Of 10000 infantry under
Gen. Hindmau.
Hindmsn was yet two days away when
We came up, it being Bluut's plan to fall
upon Marmaduke before he could receive
supports.
When we came TO be stationed for the
night two men were allowed on each out
post, and the spot where comrade and
myself were stationed was alongside the
highway leading to Cane Hill, and from
half 10 three-quarters of amile away from
our camp.
There was heavy reserve picket
quarter of mile behind us but as soon
as we had been left alone and night had
settled down we discovered that We were
'NAN ANANAl k'NNANASh. II was at tnS
bend of the road, and just here was a
creek and morass, while the forest about
was dense and gloomy. 1t seemed as if
every living thing known tonight had
come to give us a sereuade. A big owl
took position in the tree over our heads.
and kept up his dismal howls for over
an hour, while whiPpoorwhills and frogs
and various other insects added their
notes.
My comrade was burly big German.
having little or no sentiment and no fear
about him, and being tired with the long
march he soon began to drowse | pitch
cd INTO him tooth and toe nail when |
caught him asleep, for nothing was surer
than the knowledge that Marmnduke
would send scouts and spies along our
'front.' and into our camp If he knew OF
our presence.
The man reused up for awhile, but hv
and by sleep overoame him again, and
l made no effort to keep him awake.
When | found that no argument of mine
would keep his eyes open, my only re.
course was to keep double watch, and SO
make sure that the relief didnot find him
asleep when 1t came up. was so tired
ont that | could not have slept even in
camp.
After the first hour had passed away
and l had become accustomed to the
noises and the loneliness there was moth
ing so very disagreeable in the situation.
My comrade had gradually fallen over,
until at last he lay fiat on the ground. I
sat with my back to the tree facing the
bend i'll the road and the bridge, and
though the night was without moon,
could have easily detected anyone seek
ing to cross the stream by the high
way.
An nour and a half had passed when
the silence was broken by a stiAed cry,
1t acted on me like an electric shock
and | sprang up with my heart in my
mouth. could not tell from which drec-
tion 1t came, and as there had been only
one cry, | soon made myself believe that
it had been uttered by some bird or ami
NAL.
Nevertheless, my nerves were all on
edge, and the loneliness grew so oppres-
siye that l determined to arouse my com.
rade. AS | moved over to him for this
purpose my foot struck the musket,
which was leaning against the tree, and
1t fell down and was discharged. The
sharp report was followed by an "Oh! Oh"
close at hand, and the sleeper at my feet
onds. We stood thore, looking this way
and that, and listening as only men can
when peril menaces, until the corporars
guard came up to ascertain the cause of
the firing.
Then what do you suppose we discov
eredS Not over twenty feet from the
tree, in the woods by the roadside, lay
the bodies of two of the toughest looking
bushwhakers one ever saw. One was
right behind the other, and the ounce
ball from the musket l had knocked
down had passed through both their
bodies just below the breast bone. Each
had bowie-knife, and each knife was
stained with fresh blood, and when we
investigated further we found that both
men on the outpost to our right had
been assassinated each being stabbed
in three or four places.
You may call it Providence, accident,
or whatever you will, | am only giving
you the case and the facts can be
substantiated by scores of men still liy
ing.